FDA embarks on “One Consumer, One Officer” campaign

The Food and Drugs Authority is embarking on a programme dubbed “One Consumer, One Officer” in Bono East, Bono and Ahafo regions as part of its efforts to increase awareness on the safety of the various consumables on the market, especially as Christmas is just around the corner.

Areas being targeted for the programme this month include Techiman, Kintampo, Sunyani, Berekum, Dormaa Ahenkro, Wenchi, Mim and Goaso.

Under the “One Consumer, One Officer” programme, officers of the FDA visit market places to interact on a one-on-one basis with the public and instantly address their concerns about the safety of their food stuff, medicines, and other consumables.

One of such programmes has taken place at Techiman, capital of the Bono East Region, where officials of FDA, clad in their branded Lacoste T-shirt, stormed the Techiman market and engaged both buyers and sellers on some safety precautions to consider in buying any food item or drug.

The FDA officials, among others, advised people to patronize food from vendors who are properly dressed with the head covered and in clean working gear as well as avoid unhygienic commercial grinding or milling places.

They also distributed hand-outs and flyers containing useful information about food safety, iodized salt, and the med safety mobile app, among others.

The FDA Acting Regional Director for Bono, Bono East and Ahafo, Akua Amponsaa Owusu, in an interview after the exercise at Techiman said her outfit had been monitoring the safety, quality, efficacy, and performance of the regulated products so as to ensure the health and safety of the consuming public.

“At this time of the year, we intend to increase these activities to even better guarantee the safety, etc. of our regulated products. It is in the light of this that we are launching the One Consumer, One Officer 2019 programme”, she told the media.

“The aim is to ensure that officers of the FDA are available, one-on-one, to interact with the public to instantly address their concerns, as regards the food they consume, the medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, etc. they use”, she further said.

Madam Akua Amponsaa Owusu entreated the public to be extremely vigilant about the wholesomeness or otherwise of any food item they buy to avoid any health issues after consumption.